First of all, allow me to express my great satisfaction to be in Manama with an important official delegation and a distinguished group of Spanish businessmen.

This visit enables us to highlight the firm and longstanding ties between the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and help us to set an ambitious bilateral agenda.

Let me also convey my sincere gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Issa Al Jalifa for extending his kind invitation and for His extraordinary hospitality.

Spain is eager to strengthen its relations with the Member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

In this context, Bahrain is noted for the vitality of its business sector and the vibrant activity of its service industries.

Our bilateral trade is growing healthily in the last few years, but much remains to be done.

We want to encourage our firms to be more present in Bahrain. Spanish companies have developed world-class expertise in all the areas that Bahrain has earmarked as a priority: from renewable energies to water management, from information technology to transport infrastructure.

Spain is a strategic hub for operations in some of the most promising markets in the world. Many multinational high-tech industries have chosen to establish their excellence and research centres in Spain.

Spain is truly close to the Arab world. We feel its problems as our own problems, and we sincerely rejoice in its success and development. We are deeply concerned with the tragic situation in Syria, and also with the ongoing conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis

We also wish to welcome more Bahraini students, businessmen and tourists in Spain, as well as to promote the teaching of the Spanish language in Bahrain.

The Spanish economy is turning the corner of recession. There has been a painful loss of jobs, but we are now looking at a more promising scenario of growth.

As the result of a strict policy of fiscal consolidation, ambitious structural reforms and a deep reform of the financial sector, we have regained competitiveness and, today, investors are looking once again at the opportunities that Spain has to offer. With our main imbalances being corrected and promising figures ahead, it seems that we are back on the right track.

In this process, we look at Bahrain, which is undoubtedly positioning itself as one of the main financial hubs in this region and on a global scale.Your Highness, Your Excellencies,

Spain is truly close to the Arab world. We feel its problems as our own problems, and we sincerely rejoice in its success and development. We are deeply concerned with the tragic situation in Syria, and also with the ongoing conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Spain and Bahrain, with our partners in the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, must continue to work together, and with the rest of the international community, in order to help resolve these conflicts.

In this effort, we are very fortunate to count on the leadership and the experience of His Majesty King Hamad.

Your Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me finish by highlighting the importance that we can grant to the works carried during this visit. The fruitful meetings we have held and the agreements we have signed will encourage us to develop, even further more, our increasing relations of cooperation in all areas.

I believe the future offers us great chances to achieve our shared goals if we walk this path together.